SGPC Condemns US Authorities for Forcing Sikh Deportees to Remove Turbans, Calls for Accountability

A video circulating online showing Sikh deportees from the United States arriving at Amritsar airport without their turbans (dastar) during immigration checks has triggered widespread anger. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has strongly condemned the incident, accusing US authorities of violating Sikh religious rights and demanding immediate action against those responsible.  The video, which went viral on social media, shows a group of Sikh men seated without their turbans, drawing strong condemnation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami called for action against the removal of turbans from Sikh deportees and announced his resignation on 'moral grounds' in response to the incidentSGPC Condemns US for Forcing Sikh Deportees to Remove Turbans, Demands Accountability

A viral video showing Sikh deportees arriving at Amritsar airport without their turbans (dastar) has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The incident involves a group of 116 Indian nationals deported from the United States on February 15 aboard a US military aircraft. According to reports, several Sikh deportees were compelled to remove their turbans when they entered the US illegally and were not allowed to wear them during their detention.

Footage from Amritsar airport shows the men seated near the arrival gate without their turbans — a deeply significant symbol of Sikh faith and identity. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has criticized the incident as a serious violation of religious freedom. SGPC officials, present at the airport to assist the deportees with food (langar) and transportation, immediately distributed turbans to them upon arrival.

Further fueling the controversy, one deportee alleged that they were shackled during their deportation flight and forced to remove their turbans while in US custody. Opposition leaders have also raised concerns over reports that the deportees were restrained during their transfer from the US to India.

Among the 116 deportees were 65 from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and 8 from Gujarat. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami denounced the treatment of Sikh deportees, demanding a full investigation and action against those responsible. “Our youth are being deported from the US after being made to remove their turbans — an act that deeply insults our faith. The SGPC will extend full support to them and seek accountability,” Dhami said.

SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal also expressed deep regret, condemning the use of restraints and reiterating that the turban is a sacred emblem of Sikh identity. He confirmed that the SGPC will formally raise the issue with US authorities.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia joined in the condemnation, urging India’s Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Washington. He called for immediate diplomatic intervention to prevent such incidents from happening again.

The controversy comes just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States, where he met former President Donald Trump. During their discussions, Modi had assured Trump that India would cooperate in accepting all verified and undocumented Indian immigrants as part of the US’s immigration enforcement measures.

SGPC Condemns US Officials Over Claims Sikh Deportees Were Forced to Remove Turbans

A U.S. military aircraft carrying 112 Indian deportees — including 19 women, 14 minors, and two infants — landed at Amritsar Airport on Sunday, reigniting controversy over the alleged mistreatment of Sikh deportees. The passengers were from several Indian states, including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. Upon arrival, they underwent immigration, verification, and background checks before being sent to their respective home states. This latest flight is part of a larger U.S. deportation operation, following previous arrivals on February 5 and February 15. The February 15 flight brought 116 deportees, including 65 from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and 8 from Gujarat. Reports from that group drew public outrage after some deportees claimed they had been shackled during the journey and compelled to remove their turbans.

One individual from the February 15 batch alleged that he and other Sikh deportees were not wearing their turbans upon landing because they had been ordered to remove them when they first entered the U.S. illegally. The video showing them without turbans at Amritsar Airport quickly went viral, prompting a strong reaction from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The SGPC condemned the reported actions of U.S. authorities, calling the removal of turbans — a sacred article of faith — a grave insult to Sikh religious identity. SGPC representatives stationed at Amritsar Airport provided langar (free meals) and transportation to the deportees and distributed dastar (turbans) to the Sikh passengers upon arrival.

Expressing deep concern, SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal said, “It is unacceptable that our Sikh brothers were brought back in shackles and without their turbans. The turban is not just a piece of cloth — it is an inseparable part of a Sikh’s identity and dignity.”

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia also criticized the alleged conduct of U.S. authorities, urging India’s Ministry of External Affairs to take up the issue diplomatically to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

With the latest flight, the total number of Indian nationals deported from the U.S. has risen to 332. The SGPC has announced plans to formally raise the matter with U.S. officials, demanding a full investigation into the treatment of Sikh deportees and stronger safeguards to protect religious rights during deportation procedures.

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